The Marvel Spider-Man Agreement: What You Need to Know
Marvel fans everywhere were delighted when Spider-Man made his way into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) with his appearances in Captain America: Civil War and subsequent solo films. However, this union between Marvel and Sony concerning the use of the beloved character hasn`t always been so straightforward. Here`s everything you need to know about the Marvel Spider-Man Agreement.
Background
Spider-Man has long been one of the most popular characters in the Marvel Universe. After his cinematic rights were sold to Sony in the 1990s, the company released five standalone Spider-Man films between 2002 and 2014. However, after the lackluster response to 2014`s The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Sony agreed to partner with Marvel Studios to produce a new Spider-Man movie.
The Agreement
The Spider-Man agreement between Marvel and Sony involves the shared use of the character across multiple films. Sony retains the rights to produce standalone Spider-Man films, while Marvel is allowed to use the character in its Marvel Cinematic Universe movies. This means that Sony`s Spider-Man movies take place in a separate universe from the MCU, but Spider-Man himself can cross over into MCU films.
In addition to the shared use of the character, the agreement also includes specific guidelines for how he can be portrayed. For example, Spider-Man`s suit design must resemble that of the comics, and Tom Holland was cast as a younger version of the character to better fit his comic book origins.
Future of the Agreement
The Marvel Spider-Man agreement has been highly successful so far. The character has appeared in five MCU films, including two standalone movies, and has become an integral part of the franchise. However, in 2019, it was reported that negotiations between Sony and Marvel had broken down, leading to rumors that Spider-Man might be leaving the MCU.
Thankfully, the two companies were able to come to a new agreement that will see Spider-Man remaining in the MCU for at least two more films. The next Spider-Man film, Spider-Man: No Way Home, is set to release in December 2021, and will feature appearances from other characters from the previous Spider-Man films.
Conclusion
The Marvel Spider-Man agreement has been a huge success for both Marvel and Sony, allowing the character to be used in two different cinematic universes. While there have been bumps in the road, the recent agreement between the two companies ensures that Spider-Man will be swinging through the MCU for at least a few more films. Fans everywhere can`t wait to see what`s in store for their favorite webslinger.